RIVERSIDE – A career game for Riverside King running back Todd
Handley was not going to be ruined by his fumble on the 40-yard
line, giving a Corona Santiago team trailing by a touchdown the
ball back with less than a minute to play Thursday night.

Handley had rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns on 27
carries for the Wolves.

But his fumble followed by two completions by Michael Darr to
Dorion Barnett put the Sharks on King’s side of the field with a
last shot to tie, or possibly win, the game.

Darr threw to the end zone with time expiring, a Santiago
receiver went up, but Handley came down with the ball, securing a
42-35 Big VII League home victory.

“I thought I was down and the ground forced the fumble,” Handley
said of the offensive blunder. “But once I saw that (pass) coming,
I knew I had to get that thing.”

King led 35-14 after TJ Hickman rushed 49 yards for a touchdown
with 11:09 left in the game before Santiago’s comeback.

Hickman made Santiago account for two running threats in the
King backfield, rushing for 158 yards on 18 carries and scoring
twice in the second half.

But for the second consecutive week, Santiago fought its way
back into the game after trailing early.

Last week, Santiago scored 19 consecutive points to defeat
Eastvale Roosevelt, 40-33, in its league opener.

This time, Miles O’Dell began the comeback, capping a 70-yard
Santiago drive with a 7-yard touchdown rush with 4:25 left to
play.

Santiago then recovered the onside kick, and Darr hit O’Dell for
a 20-yard touchdown pass a few plays later.

Darr completed 21 of 41 passes for 285 yards and two
touchdowns.

King recovered the next Santiago onside attempt, and Handley ran
48 yards on the Wolves’ first offensive play to take a 35-21
lead.

But Santiago would not go away, Darr completing a 7-yard
touchdown pass to Josh Thomas with 1:36 left to pull the Sharks
within seven points.

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